What to Watch Out For in Public Bathrooms

Public restrooms can be scary places. They smell funny, their cleanliness is never predictable and germy danger seems to lurk in every (damp and creepy) crack and crevice. Parents of toddlers have an even greater challenge, since small children are not only just learning to use the toilet, but they also love to touch whatever they can get their little hands on. Public restrooms are so notorious, they've inspired websites like The Bathroom Diaries, a tribute to the world's best and worst public bathrooms. (The best is in New Zealand. China's squat toilets rank as the worst.) So is all this anxiety appropriate? Or is it just public paranoia? For the poop (sorry) on public potties, read on.

What kind of bacteria can be found on a toilet seat? The gang's all here: Streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli, hepatitis A virus and the common cold virus are regulars in a public bathroom. Yikes! Now here's the good news -- for most people, a healthy immune system and a good hand washing can handle any of these bugs who do manage to immigrate from toilet to person. Read on for more scary stats and tips for staying healthy in a public restroom.

But What About the Children?
Just like moms don't need to hover over the seat, neither do kids (at least those with healthy immune systems). But little ones have trouble perching on those grown-up sized thrones. Either hold your tot so they don't have to grip the seat with their hands, or make sure they get a really good scrubbing at the sink when they're done.

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The Great Flushing Controversy
Health experts recommend that you use your shoe to flush. Not because of the nasties that live on the handle, mind you, but because everyone else is probably doing it anyway. Toilet handle plus bottom-of-the-shoe germs equals EWWW. But blogger Julie of A Little Pregnant once threatened violence to anyone she caught using this technique, so you'll have to decide which is riskier -- exposure to those germs? Or one mad mama?

Damon Dahlen, AOL

When Toilets Attack
Unpredictable and loud, automatic toilets might be cleaner, but they scare many newly trained toddlers right out of the bathroom. Reassure your child, but if the going gets tough, here's a tip: Carry a pack of Post-It's in your bag to cover the sensor while your tot takes care of business.

Damon Dahlen, AOL

Oh Baby!
Many public restroom changing stations feature a disposable cover dispenser to keep baby away from germs. As most parents know, that dispenser is almost always empty. Instead, plan ahead and carry your own changing pad. In a pinch, a blanket will do, too. Keep baby's hands busy with one of her own toys, then be sure to wash your own hands when you're through.

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Handwashing 101
Teach kids the right way to scrub for cleaner hands: Using soap and warm water, lather up and scrub hands (back and front), in between fingers and under fingernails for at least 20 seconds, or as long as it takes kids to sing the ABCs. Rinse well, dry, then use that same towel to turn the faucet off.

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Stuck Without Soap
Hand sanitizers are a life saver for busy parents and other people on the go, but do they really work? According to Mayo Clinic, yes, as long as they are alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Look for a product with at least 60 percent alcohol, and use enough product to cover your hands, front and back. In a pinch, it's just as good as hand washing.

Damon Dahlen, AOL

Think Outside the Throne
Think the toilet is the germiest thing in a public restroom? Think again. The floor usually ranks as the dirtiest, followed by the sanitary napkin receptacle. Sink faucets and towel holders are major culprits too; both are nice, damp breeding ground for germs. Teach little ones not to touch while they wait for you to go potty, and if you can't find an automatic sink, use the towel that you dried your hands with to turn the water off.

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Dirty Little Secrets
Everyone has a dirty little secret, but here's one that's filthier than most: Though we all claim to wash our hands after we use the bathroom, ASM's Clean Hands Campaign discovered that only 77 percent of us -- on average -- actually do. At a Braves Game in Atlanta or Grand Central Station in NYC? Keep your hands to yourself; a high percentage of people in those locations were observed leaving the bathroom without washing.

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Toilet App Brings Relief to Those Caught Short in ShanghaiEric Chen and his girlfriend are tourists in busy, bustling Shanghai. They've seen many of the sights, but haven't yet seen the one thing Eric needs - a public restroom. Fortunately for Eric, help is at hand. His cell phone is equipped with an app that directs needy visitors to the closest facility.

Fifth Arrest Over Toddler KillingsHundreds took to the streets of a Johannesburg township as news broke that a fifth suspect in the rape and murder of two toddlers had been arrested. The mutilated bodies of the two girls aged three and two were found in a public toilet in Diepsloot township on October 15th. The killings have shocked a nation with one of the world's highest rates of violent and sexual crime. The protesters said they wanted police to hand the latest suspect over.

Hand Dryers Are Harmful to Some PeopleResearchers from Goldsmiths at the University of London have found that the volume of hand dryers in public bathrooms can be harmful to some people. Their study showed that high speed air dryers can cause discomfort for people suffering from dementia, or alter the navigation abilities of blind people, and force people who use hearing aids to turn them off upon entering the public restroom.

ReaderComments (Page 1 of 16)

If you want to use a public restroom sit on the toilet, do your business, and flush with your hand. If it was made to be flushed with your foot, the flushing mechanism would be on the floor.Those of you who hover over the bowl wind up peeing all over it, and those who insist on flushing with your foot wind up creating more germs for all. Just sit down, do your business, flush, and wash your hands. Its not rocket science. if you can't manage that, hold it until you get home or find a clump of trees.

I totally agree!! Plus--don't these people wash their hands when they are done going?!! If you are going to wash your hands--I mean wet them, put soap on them, lather them for at least 30 seconds then rinse them--what will it matter if you touch the toilet flusher handle? What is truly disgusting is the number of people who don't wash their hands when they are done! If I were the people flushing with their foot, I would be more leary of touching the door handle to leave!!

For real! I'm the haqppy camper who cleans the bathrooms in an interstate restaurant. More diners than not DO NOT wash their hands when leaving! Many will pee all over the seat, and let's not even think about those who have morning sickness. At least TELL someone you puked all over the place, and try not to walk in it on your way out!

I agree, Some people are over the top on sanitary issues. I think your comment is too relaxed on the issue. This topic is relevant and one should care rather the are sitting in feces. Kudos to the foot flushers the squatters and all non nobbers:)

As a land surveyor I find myself stuck in the city (where there are no unattended clumps of trees) and wind up using public restrooms. Given the choice, I will flush with my foot. However, in male restrooms where urinals are the norm, the hand must be used. I really don't have a problem; since, I immeadiately wash my hands and most restrooms, these days, provide anti microbal soap. My real problem comes when opening the door to leave. I use a paper towel to insulate my hand form the undoubtedly filthy door and, holding the door open with my shoulder, toss the towel into the trash. If the can is close to the door I make it every time, If it's at the back of the room. I'm about 50% form the door line. Ifeel guilty about throwing it on the floor, but we're talking safety here! Mc Donalds are off my list since most of them don't provide towels (only air dryers)

Ok come on guys....do you wash your hands at home after you pee? No you don't ( unless you pee on them by mistake) I know that guys at work will wash there hands when someone is in the bathroom/locker room, but when no one is there they pee and leave. Just like me.

Amazingly, they do manufacture toilets that have the flushing mechanism on the floor beside the toilet! Unfortunately, I've only encountered one - at a rest stop in NH. I couldn't help but comment about it to the attendee, who said that everyone who uses them loves the idea. And pointed out that a floor flusher, designed to be use by feet, is the least likely to break - whereas all those flush handles & auto-flushers are the most breakable part of a public toilet. So if you don't want to see "out of order" signs in the restroom, or if you want your tax dollars used for something besides fixing public bathrooms (state rest stops, municipal buildings, etc...) campaign for foot flushers. If you're starting a business please install them in your restrooms. And spread the word, because we need more foot flushing toilets in the USA!

kudos, there are more germs on the floor, than what lurkes on the handle.germs can survive up to 48-72 hours, depending on the type of bacteria or virus.that is why they make the waterless soap now, to control the spreading of germs.come on people, buy some waterless soap, carry it in your pocket or purse, when your done, wash with with regular soap, then after you leave the restroom, put some waterless soap on your hands, to remove any remaining germs. and for the super paranod, use a papertowel , to open the door, and use toilet paper to flush the toilet.

I agree with Enough. One little tip that I've found useful instead of your foot is to take a handful of toilet paper when you are finished, grab the flush mechanism and then quickly throw the toilet paper in the bowl as it is flushing. Walla! Your hand doesn't touch the handle or push button and neither does your foot. Oh, BTW, my girlfriend twisted her ankle by flushing with her foot; it slipped off.

You have a point there, but did you know that you can actually get certain STDs from sitting on a public toilet? That is one of the biggest reasons as to why people don't want to sit on the toilet in a public restroom. Would you want to risk it? Especially women who are pregnant...they could get any number of things that could harm them or their baby. Think on that for a little bit.

I've seen some pretty gruesome public toilets...as we all have. It seems the messy offenders are lacking some sort of moral fiber. As for myself, I wipe the seat when I'm done, make sure everything goes down, and after I wash my hands, I wipe off any water I may have splashed on the sink, and throw my paper towel in the garbage can. However, I don't care what you say, unless it's a button shoulder length on the wall, I'm flushing with my foot!

In California the public toilets are required to offer seat covers which help a bit to make things a little more comfortable. However, when towels are not available, I wipe my hands using a seat cover or toilet paper like a towel and then throw it in the trash; sometimes outside the toilet if the trash is too far away. Public toilets all over the country should require the seat covers. I keep forgetting to bring them with me when I travel. Some airplanes have them and some do not...even on the same airline.

I totally agree. If everyone would just be normal, we wouldn't have to worry as much about all the germs. You should be washing your hands after using a public restroom anyway; so if you don't, it's your own fault for carrying away all those germs.

Germs are germs. There are no "your germs/their germs". There are just a lot of germs. What matters is what you chose to do about them. That's why hovering is rediculous.

Sorry but I can't count on people to be as considerate as I am. So I will continue to hover and flush with my foot. I will never ever in my young black life sit on a public toilet. For one, I know it is not bleached as much as I bleach mine. I keep Clorox wipes by my toilet so my kids can wipe the seat if they sprinkle when they tinkle. For two I don't know what kinds of Communicable diseases the person before me had that used that toilet. Hep C, Bacteria Vaginosis, Trich and other bacteria infections can be transmitted from a toilet sorry. Ugh if your nasty ass is sittin on a toilet then wonderin why your cooch smells like Old Fish

Yeah, wash your hands, it's simple! Germs are everywhere, so the main key is to wash your hands!! Your never going to avoid germs, and here is an idea to people who can't stand the thought of opening the bathroom door...buy your own hand sanitizer! Some are so small to just put in the pocket of your jeans.

okay thats DISCUSTING. first of all, how is that in any way making it harder if we flush with our feet???? does it enable you to flush normally somehow? No. It doesn't actually and two.. If you wana get some gross skin transmited disease on your ass, be my guest but that doesnt mean we all have to and finally, I know that not everyones sprays all over the toilet only a chalenged few so there.

What really gets me is the people who think it's a great idea to flush with their feet, yet use their hands to open the stall door. Everything gets touched by people who don't all observe the same practices. The toilet, the stall door, the faucet and so on. Everyone has their own issues and comfort levels. I witnessed women at work who'd share a bathroom with just a few other people on the floor use paper towels to turn on the faucet and then again to turn them off. I think people get a little too out of control. Don't get me started on the germ-a-phob parents who bubble their kids and then wonder why they get insanely ill by time school starts and their immune system is overloaded. Our bodies are smarter than we give them credit for and they will fight bugs. Our 'quick-fix' society just wants a magical pill for everything and we have no idea what most of those medications due to our bodies besides the feeling better that we seek. Humanity has survived far worse than a dirty bathroom.